The long-dormant System of a Down reunited and toured in 2011, but rather than record another album with the popular metal band, frontman Serj Tankian has turned his focus back on his solo career. He has officially announced his latest solo LP, Harakiri, which will be out this summer via Serjical Strike/Reprise Records.
UPDATE: The album is due out on July 10.
The songwriter began the album in 2011 and is currently finishing it up in his Serjical Strike Studios in Los Angeles.
In a statement, Tankian explained, "The record is different than any I've made as a solo artist. It is much more driving and punk oriented with influences ranging from goth to electronic to '80s vibes, dynamically heavy rock to epic melodic songs. Lyrically, it spans the gauntlet of themes from personal, political and philosophical to spiritual, humour and love."
Some of the songs were written on an iPad. Serj's touring band, the F.C.C., helped him to perform the tunes in the studio.
The collection was apparently inspired by reports of animals around the world committing suicide on a large scale in 2011. This provides the thematic underpinning for the collection, which is named after the Japanese word for ritual suicide.
Incredibly, this rock record is one of four albums that Serj has in the works. A press release notes that he's also got a jazz album, an electronic album (with Jimmy Urine of Mindless Self Indulgence) and symphony called Orca underway.
Stay tuned for more details about Harakiri, which so far doesn't have a firm release date, and hopefully some news about all those other projects as well.
UPDATE: The album is due out on July 10.
The songwriter began the album in 2011 and is currently finishing it up in his Serjical Strike Studios in Los Angeles.
In a statement, Tankian explained, "The record is different than any I've made as a solo artist. It is much more driving and punk oriented with influences ranging from goth to electronic to '80s vibes, dynamically heavy rock to epic melodic songs. Lyrically, it spans the gauntlet of themes from personal, political and philosophical to spiritual, humour and love."
Some of the songs were written on an iPad. Serj's touring band, the F.C.C., helped him to perform the tunes in the studio.
The collection was apparently inspired by reports of animals around the world committing suicide on a large scale in 2011. This provides the thematic underpinning for the collection, which is named after the Japanese word for ritual suicide.
Incredibly, this rock record is one of four albums that Serj has in the works. A press release notes that he's also got a jazz album, an electronic album (with Jimmy Urine of Mindless Self Indulgence) and symphony called Orca underway.
Stay tuned for more details about Harakiri, which so far doesn't have a firm release date, and hopefully some news about all those other projects as well.